UX Designer – Ghana

A bit about us, and how we’re different 

Digital Disruptions is a boutique US-based strategy and design innovation consulting firm focusing on fintech and digital financial services (DFS) in emerging markets.  Since our founding in 2014, we’ve been re-thinking – and re-doing – the way fintech consulting work is done in emerging markets.  [Read more about our unique traits].   

Our mission is to apply and adapt best-in-class innovation tools, methods, and mindsets to the fintech sector, and work diligently yet swiftly from research and design to build and launch phases.

We take a start-up style approach that fuses analytical and creative thinking that results in tangible progress for our clients – and meaningful outcomes for the people and communities they serve.  

​We’ve been trusted by top-tier clients both in the public sector (e.g., World Bank, IFC, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, World Economic Forum) and private sector (Vodafone M-Pesa, Mastercard, VC-backed start-ups). [See the Work section for a sample of our past engagements.] 

What we’re looking for  

We’re seeking a senior (5-8 years of experience) User Experience Designer, primarily based in Accra, who will help drive the growth of digital products for our private and public sector clients, mainly in Ghana and Africa in general. You should have a passion for understanding user needs and experience in digital technologies. 

You’ll use your design skills in User Experience Design (e.g., research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, etc.) to craft functional experiences that delight customers. You’ll also conduct user research, both in-person and online, to understand customer needs and craft low to medium-level prototypes to see how customers react to new products, messaging, and experiences.  

On the one hand, you should be ​proactive and self-motivated to work independently; on the other, you’ll also work collaboratively with cross-functional subject-matter experts in different time zones.  

Above all, we are looking for candidates who share our firm values of Integrity – doing the right thing even when no one is looking –, Quality – we are experts in our craft and take pride in our high-quality work, – User-centricity – we keep the client and the end-user at the center of our engagements. We are looking for someone who is not only a thinker but also a doer with a strong Bias to Action and Urgency and a Solution Oriented mindset.

What you’ll be doing 

As a User Experience Designer at Digital Disruptions, you will work on a wide variety of exciting, meaningful projects around the world, such as:

• Redesigning a leading bank’s mobile app for a remittance product to make it easier and cheaper for migrants based in Europe to send money to Africa;
• Building low-fidelity prototypes for concept testing of a payment solution for SMEs in East and Southern Africa;
• Conducting usability testing of biometric identity solutions to provide recommendations and alternative designs to a South Asian fintech start-up.
• Conduction exploratory research to explore users’ needs around money transfer and remittance products.

Projects last anywhere from 2-week sprints to 12-month long engagements. You’ll work closely with our Head of UX and Design and as part of a broader team of specialists in product, marketing, strategy, project management, and data analysis, depending on the project.

What the role offers 

You’ll have the opportunity to work on innovation projects which have the potential to impact people’s lives, predominantly low-income individuals and SMEs in developing countries. We work with a number of top-tier clients who are at the forefront of the fintech sector, and are fortunate to have a wide variety of projects that requires our knowledge, skills, and passion to bring to fruition.   We’re fast-paced yet down-to-earth, and eager to make a lasting impact. 

The role can be either near full-time (~75%, leading to 100% full-time if desired) or full-time from the start.  We trust our colleagues to get their work done how they see fit: there are neither office hours, nor office politics, with us.

As part of our consulting engagements, you might be required to travel for 1 to 2-week engagements roughly every quarter to markets in Africa (though only when covid-19 conditions are deemed safe).  

We offer a competitive remuneration with bonuses, as well as generous paid time off and parental leave.  We see every team member’s professional development as a priority, and offer many opportunities to grow with the firm, as well as learn from talented colleagues who are also genuine experts in their subject-matter areas.

Sound interesting? You should have: 

• 5 to 8 years of solid, hands-on experience working as a User Experience designer. At least some experience with User Experience research, such as conducting user interviews and synthesizing insights, is essential;
• Familiarity with innovation frameworks and concepts such as Design Thinking, Lean Start-Up, Behavioral Design, and Agile;
• Expertise in standard UI software such as Figma, Sketch, InVision, Illustrator, or similar;
• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate design processes, ideas, and solutions to teams and clients;
• Verbal and written fluency in English;
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Design, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Social Sciences or related field.  

Please note that due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We also encourage you to sign up for our Associate Consultant network here as other project-based opportunities arise.